Rough transcription - minus the first few questions and using a scratchy tape - beginning, sorry. Time is short.

(Terri 'collapsed' at age 26, in 1991)

A: What is your belief about what caused this collapse?

B: Well, at the time, we weren't certain. I didn't suspect that her husband could possibly be behind it. We were all very concerned with her well being, but it wasn't until recently - last year - that some very disturbing, troubling, medical evidence surfaced - which really raises (questions). (It's) something my father had suspected for a long, long time..a lot longer than I had, that Michael could possibly have been behind Terri's (collapse).

A: So that it may have been physically brought on.

Now, there are apparently x-rays that show bone fractures and things like that?

B: That is correct. That's what the terrible truth (is). That surfaced, I believe, in Nov. of 2002. Bone scans indicated severe trauma throughout Terri's body.

A: What have the doctors ... have they said (what) they believe may have caused her to collapse?

B: Well, it's never been investigated. That's one of the things..that we're (trying) to get done...(get investigated - give to) ..state attorneys in Florida..We went there.

They also have a doctor's testimony, who said that he has only - I forget his name - but he came across only one other person who had the same neck position as Terri and that person's neck position was caused by strangulation...So he persists, and saw the bone scan..very troubled by the new evidence. Along with quite a bit of the circumstantial evidence that supports the notion that Terri could possibly have been strangled.

We went to the state attorney's office - Bernie McCabe (sp), in Pinellas County, and, if I remember correctly. they were not very kind about him getting back to us. They told..my father..even if Terri was a victim of strangulation, there's a 4-year statute of limitations which would protect Michael.

A: O.K. Perhaps for that, but this attempt to (withhold food) by the judiciary - to continue in the, perhaps, murder of his wife would be something a little bit more current.

B: Correct.

A: And this is what we're really dealing with now.

Now, when this first took place, Terri first collapsed, in those first few days and weeks that followed this incident, she was hospitalized immediately?

B: Correct

A: And she's been hospitalized ever since?

B: That's correct.

A: Now, was she responsive at all in the beginning?

B: Yeah, Terri was, uh, she was getting rehab for, uh, I guess for about a year and a half (out) from her accident and she was making progress. We have notes by nurses that state she was. It was limited.

A: Has she ever been able to communicate anything that may have happened to her that night?

B: She's not at that point where she's able to communicate that well, yet, but she is communicating. She tries all the time to speak. She receives (virtually) no therapy no - since 1991 - so for her to speak is very difficult because she has to be taught how to speak again, but she tries her darndest to..communicate with us.

A: (When did) you last see her?

B: Last night. Her family, we were in shifts all weekend because Terri was very ill, and I went down last night..

A: Because there was an issue with her being moved and your family not really being able to be with her.

B: Well, we've always...actually, my little sister, Susie, and I, uh, were actually barred at one time a couple of years ago from seeing Terri for a period of 6 months. Until recently, it's just been my mom, my dad, Susie and myself who have been visiting Terri, and, uh, of course, Monsignor Malinowski (sp)..visited her as well.

A: O.k., tell us about that controversy.

B: Monsignor Malinowski? When Terri was at the hospital, I guess it was about two weeks ago now, Monsignor went by to visti Terri. He always gives her the annointing of the sick, and, now for close to three years. He went to the hospital by himself, without my parents, and (I guess) Michael (learned of this)..he told the nurses not to allow Monsignor to visit Terri, and Judge (Greely?)...barred...from Terri.

A: So now the problem really at it's crux right now, it's kind of a custody battle?

B: I guess you could look at it that way. Correct.

A: Her husband..won't divorce her, he won't allow her family to be in charge of her, to take care of her..it seems he would prefer her to die.

B: He is, he is Hell-bent on, on killing my sister. He is doing everything in his power, I mean everything in his power to see that my sister dies.

A: Let's remind them. Let's find some of his motivation. Now...there was, of course,..some innuendo that it was an abusive relationship..there are people who have correlated that that might have been realistically what was going on, and we've had all this time in between and now you have him adament to the point where he's demanding that the law step in and allow her to be sort of be killed off, and die.

Now, how these fights that are going against it, what is it..are you trying to (seize) custody or just demand that attention be given? And then there's of course the money motivation.

B: We want guardianship back of Terri. We want Michael to be removed as guardian and allow our family to become Terri's caretakers.

A: And this battle has been going on for how long..this specific case about guardianship?

B: That's been going on since January of 2000.

A: Why won't Michael give that up?

B: Well, if you ask Michael what is behind it, he claims that he's just doing what Terri wanted. That it's Terri's wish..that's what he said.

But we believe that, you know, it could be, well, back when he first initiated the removal, back in Jan. of 2000, uh, there was close to a million dollars in Terri's trust fund that Michael would have inherited upon Terri's death, so it was clearly a money motivation, when this whole thing started.

Since then, and I didn't think he planned on this ..lasting in the courts as long as it has, the money has deteriorated. It has gone to his attorney - over a half million dollars, which was, again, which was supposed to be rehabilitation...that's what it was earmarked for, but it has gone to his attorney and now they say that there's not any money left.

We're not sure if the motive is, because she can never speak again (unintel..)...

A: Let's be honest. Were the collapse to have been an offshoot of an attempted strangulation, I wouldn't want her to speak again either.

B: Well, of course not.

A: We wouldn't want her to be rehabilitated. Nobody wants to have that finger pointing at them.

(Anna asks Bob how he feels about a) "mainstream media that refuses to do any journalism whatsoever when it comes to your sister's story?"

B: Well, I got to tell you, it's possibly one of the most frustrating aspects of this case is the lack of responsibility by most, not all, but most of the media in this case. They had to research this case.

We're up against an attorney who has initiated a campaign with this right-to-die language that has (conditioned) the public to think that Terri's a lifeless, brain-dead vegetable.

A: That's the first story I got, my first impression was.."why shouldn't they allow her to die. And then I saw the video. I was horrified that someone was trying to put her to sleep...When the doctors were asking her (to) open wide her eyes - I was in tears. I have to tell you, Bob, I was just sobbing watching that. I thought, "she's responding. She's listening. She's opening her eyes, and someone wants to yank her feeding tube out so that she can die - excruciating - and she's a totally alive human being?

B: I think you understand now why so vehemently his attorney, Michael Schiavo's attorney, tried to have those videos blocked - he tried his hardest to block those videos from being released.

A: I'm glad they were. They wer very powerful. Incredibly powerful because you're looking at her. You're seeing a live human being who is able to respond. Who is totally cognizant of what is being said to them and it's horrific. I mean, the Judge has not seen these videos?

B: Yeah. We're mystified on why the judge is acting as he is in this case. You know, it was ...the release of the videos on our website that's really started this groundswell. They've only been released now since mid-July and the support we're getting - it's difficult for me to express - to tell you the amount of e-mail, the amount of support - the amount of outrage thae we're now getting.. People are looking at these videos and they are mystified. They are just outraged that the court (is going to) starve to death my sister.

A: I'ts incredibly horrible. Those videos came out in July. It's getting to the point where when the charges went out (at) the website we're affiliated with, which is Free Republic.com....Jeb Bush received 27,000 e-mails. That obviously then did propel him to write that letter. Wrote what I thought to be a very well thought out letter to the judges that are involved. Because 27,000 e-mails represents a lot of people.

B: It certainly does, and I think Jeb Bush, being a human being, and I'm told there was research done on the case, and anybody that researches this case and discovers what is going on, I thinks as Jeb Bush did, (feels) helpless..wanting to involve (themselves). Because it is, you know it is just mystifying to us how these judges, it is really one judge in particular that has just (visibly) protected Michael (out of this) whole group of people the last 3 years...

A: O.k., Now, this is Judge Greer?

B: Judge George Greer.

A: How much information has your side given him? Has he seen these videos?

B: They were at the trial..and, you know, interestingly enough, Judge Greer, in his ruling, even said that, uh, that Terri shows some response, and it was almost like she didn't respond enough for Judge Greer in order for him to rule where she was aware. But if you look at Florida law, to be in a PVS position, you have to show absolutely no, NO response, uh, or awareness of your environment..Terri clearly, that's what our attorney (responded)..Terri clearly, under Florida law, does not fit the PVS category.

A: Which is Permanent Vegetative State.

B: Permanent Vegetative State

A: Right

B: NO response, at all! No response at all to her environment.

A: Which is obviously not what we're seeing. Terri has shown more response than the guy who has come out of a 19-year coma in Arkansas - and asked for a Pepsi. Terri is more active than he was.

B: I fully agree.

A: Is there something sneaky there with Judge Greer..something weird between him and (this) husband?

B: It certainly doesn't makes you wonder...about the American justice system. The truth is what the judge says it is. So (much is) in control of this Judge and as long as he is ruling in this case, uh, we're in a lot of trouble - Terri's in a lot of trouble, unfortunately.

A: (Anna talks about a seeming nationwide trend of 'judicial tyranny'.)..'judges undermining and overturning the concensus of vast amounts of people..Judges are supposed to be about enforcing the laws that we already have..

If we can prove, which obviously you've already been able to do, that Terri is NOT in a 'permanent vegetative state', I just don't understand why we need to continue...I don't know. It just seems there's got to be something there.

B: The same Judge refused to let (we asked) 3 doctors testify that Terri's able to swallow food, which means she can eat..We went to Judge Greer's court and asked him - we had a hearing - we asked the Judge to please give Terri, allow Terri a simple swallow test to see if she can eat. A swallowing test, to see if she has the capability of eating would take less than a day. He denied it.

A: Now, has he met Terri? Has he seen Terri himself?

B: Only through the videos. He's never gone down to visit her.

A: That's interesting, because he wants to preside and decide over whether she should live or die, but has decided not to go look her in the eye first?

B: That's absolutely correct.

A: There's something wrong right there.

B: Well, you would think he would want to go down and see for himself the person that he's ruling on, just how 'brain dead' she really is.

A: I would.

B: I would, myself, too - to have a clear conscience. Maybe he doesn't want to go down for that reason. He would see how alive and how responsive Terri is.

A: And this brings us to controversy no....which is, of course, the Catholic Bishops' Conference. ...that are all screaming about people that are on death row, and yet, have not accorded Terri the same respect as convicted murderers.

B: I teach at a Catholic School here in Florida, and Bishop Lynch (sp) is really my direct superior. He is the head of the Diocese of St. Petersburg and he is not, 'til recently - I'm talking the last 3 weeks - spoke(n) out on behalf of Terri, never called my parents...he could have prayers for my family and Terri. He has remained completely silent over 3 years. I think caved into the pressure, public pressure...

Our family met with him right after the trial. I've had conversations with him in my school, recently. Before he came out with a statement..I think he tried to avoid me. So, but I have to say that he has come out recently and he has come to Terri's defense. I would have liked to have seen it (be) a stronger statement, and I think it's sad that it took him this lonmg to do something, and at least he has, finally.

A: Now, you said that you saw Terri last night. DOes she know? From what I've seen, it seems like she's kind of trapped inside her body that's not really functioning any more. When you talk to her, what kind of clarity do you see in her eyes? Does she understand when you're talking to her?

B: Well, you know, that's what's so sad. My heart breaks when I go in there. Terri's been confined to this room for 12 years. To see her just being neglected the way she has, with absolutely no therapy, it's a miracle as responsive as she is today with absolutely no stimulation. The only stimulation that she gets is from the nurses and my family members - speak to her, do whatever we can to help when we're visiting.

It's hard for me to explain how, how responsive and how, you know, alive Terri is when we go in and see her, and, again, the notion that they're going to starve my sister to death seems...(unintel.) reponsive..(unint.).

A: Jane Chastain wrote a column today in World Net Daily which, I'm assuming you read.

B: I certainly did. It was wonderful.

A: It was wonderful in an absolutely horrific kind of way, though.

B: That last sentence, the way (she) framed that last sentence..20,000 petitions have been signed, and only 200 million more to go.

A: Exactly. She fully described what it takes to die from being starved for two weeks. It's horrific..what a person goes through.

B: I say wonderful in the sense that I'm glad this case is getting attention now. Every time I see an article written about Terri in this light, it makes me..I'm appreciative of the people speaking out on behalf of Terri's life.

A: And I'm appreciative of the family who is fighting so long and so hard for her in the face of ..even now, judicial madness.

Jeb Bush did write this letter which I did read. Summer, a poster on Free Republic, received a full copy of the letter and posted it for people to read, I guess the truth of it is it only has a certain amount of weight to it.

What really can we do at this point? Would just his showing his interest - is that enough? Is there something else that may be done still at this point?

B: Well, you know, I'm not 100% sure what Gov. Bush can do at this point. I'm not sure that he can intervene any more than he already did with the Judge. I don't know. Maybe the appearance of bias. I don't know if he's in a position to do that. Someone told me that he has to be appointed in order to be removed for bias,a nd Judge Greer seems to be an elected official.

A: You have to prove bias.

If someone is accorded 1.3 million dollars in order to take care of someone else, and they, instead, spend that money on a lawyer to try and kill the person they're supposed to take care of, is there a lawsuit there? This is obviously misappropriation of those funds - what they were designated for. Is there anything there?

B: Let me tell you, we have looked into every aspect of this case. We tried to track down the insurance company that was settled back in 1992, to let them know of the fraud involved, and we found out that they had been bought out like 2 or 3 times, not even in business anymore.

We have looked into, as I said, almost every aspect we could possibly look into and I got to tell you - this Judge has completely insulated Michael. This Judge has put an order out to kill Terri and ..it has completely insulated Michael from any wrongdoing.

A: What happens on Sept.11?

B: Well, from my understanding, the Judge (will) set a date for the feeding (to be stopped). He could set (it) for the next day. He could set it for two years from now. But our attorney is going to go in there and try (her) hardest to get the Judge to change his mind.

A: So what can people do to help Terri? Because there are a lot of people, Bob, that want to help her, a lot of people that want to stop this from happening - that are just as horrified - well, obviously they can't be, you're her brother, but are as horrified and overwrought as one can be without tthat sort of fillial relationship.

What is it that we can inspire people to do to help this situation?

B: Did you see the affadavits of the nurses? They just came out the last couple of weeks..These nurses were absolutely petrified of Michael..I wish they would have come forwarda earlier, but, never the less, their affidavits are extremely disturbing, to say the least.

A: Why would they be afraid of Michael? Who is this guy? Why are they so afraid of him? ..He has pictures of everybody naked,...I've decided.

B: Michael's 6'6" - probably 260 pounds, and he, he's very intimidating physically. Uh, I think he bullies girls around as much as he can. I think he intimidates women.

A: There's 'concealed carry' laws there in Florida.

But, seriously, right now there is a big fight rught now on FR to call Judge Greer and to give him a peice of everyone's mind.

B: The problem with Terri in this case, is his rulings have gone completely, you know, on Michael's behalf.

Bernie McCabe (sp), a local state attorney. We think now that the nurses coming forward - there's enough evidence now so he (could) launch a criminal investigation into this case.

A: O.K., that would be nice. He's someone we could call.

B:Right.

A: Bernie McCabe, write it down.

B: He has chosen not to get involved in this case. Why? Why isn't there enough information for him to investigate? What's going on? It certainly seems. in a lot of people's minds, that there could possibly be some criminal wrongdoing - at the very least.

A: This is what I'm saying. Even if we can't prove, or statute of limitations - what happened 13 1/2 years ago, we certainly have, and I say 'we' in the collective 'we' - have certainly enough now where a criminal investigation on a whole bunch of different levels.

You said - the money, the restricting of rehabilitation services - all of this stuff - it just seems like a whole body ...so, let's call him, call Judge Greer, who else? Who else can we bug? They're making your sister's life miserable, Bob. We want to make their life miserable.

B: I guess the, uh, Charlie Crist - the Florida State Attorney (AG) - launch his own investigation if he felt as though there was enough evidence to do so.

Again, we feel as though there is.

You know, one of those things, Michael petitioned to have Terri's body cremated immediately upon her death.

A: Lovely. We like that. That always seems so innocent.

B: Oh, yeah, and he just did that back in this past year - petitioned Judge Greer.

A: Well, we have to prevent that (Feinie, I think, says 'that doesn't send up a red flag or anything, does it?!')

Yeah, we have to prevent that from happening.

B: I certainly hope so. If the petitions inspired Gov. Bush to do something, maybe the more people we get outraged by this case it will inspire someone else to want to get involved.

A: I think that we need to, and I (trust) that there were people that thought, 'Oh, I should write a letter,' and then they heard, 'oh, wekk they got 27,000 - onus is off me.' You know what? I think that's the wrong approach.

I think we need to double and triple and quadruple those numbers 'til they realize that, you know something, it's just not acceptable when there is someone who is saying "I will take care of this person", "I will do what is necessary to help this person out,"...why then force their dying?

B: I can't, for the life of me. There is no common sense to this case at all. It keeps me up at night. I don't know how this could be happening. I just, I have no idea how tis could be happening.

...

A: What is it with the Florida courts?

B: I think after this case is over, I'm ready to move elsewhere. I don't want to end up with any kind of physical problems in Florida.

A: That sort of thing begins to spread.

B: You know where the "right-to-die" movement has us?...We're actually sitting here, and we're talking about 'Terri's got to prove her awareness.' Know what I mean? And not just Terri, all disabled people. They have to prove awareness. The issue here is, nobody should have to prove their awareness. We're having discourse over when it is o.k. and when it isn't o.k. to starve people to death. It wasn't that long ago (that) starving people to death was considered barbaric.

A: It's still considered barbaric.

B: It's become (acceptable) now.

A: So is abortion, and that's legal.

B: Right. We are taking human life ...just like what happened back in the 1930s.

A: With your sister, instead of saying, "This is a woman with the potential to regain her functions" we call her PVS. ('Feinie?' : "she's a vegetable.) She's not even human anymore, so, therefore, we put this epithet on people and reduce them to totally demeaning (manner) and I think it's horrible.

I thank you for joining us tonight. My heart just goes out to your family.

...

A: This is what we'll do: have people call the Judge, call Bernie McCabe, Charlie Crist, ..and we're going to do everything that we can to help save your sister.

B: I'm never going to be able to thank everybody. It upsets me very much. I'm getting ... hundreds of e-mails daily. I can't keep up. (I want) to e-mail all these people back. Tell them that I read their e-mail, and you have no idea how much we appreciate your support. And I just wish there was some way - I want your listeners to know, that my family appreciates every single e-mail. If we don't respond to them in a short amount of time, please know that we are reading them...

I know some posters are mad at me for saying it, but I think Governor Bush could do more. He could call his brother, the President, and get a Presidential order to save Terri's life. Don't tell me about all the legalities blah-blah-blah- just DO IT JEB!

7
posted on 09/06/2003 7:46:48 PM PDT
by Palladin
(Proud to be a FReeper!)

In recent court documents, the results of a bone scan conducted in 1991 illustrate massive body trauma, multiple broken bones and other suspicious areas that leads the family to believe Terri may have been beaten the night of her collapse. A radiologist is on record as stating that Terri was worked over good. Another attending physician testified that Terris rigid neck is consistent with strangulation.

It is the responsibility of the State Attorney, Bernie McCabe, to investigate the suspicious nature of Terri's Collapse. Evidence indicates that Terri Schiavo did not suffer a heart attack, but the public has been led to believe such misinformation due to the erroneous publicity in Terri's case.

The Florida Appellate Court has refused to overturn a recent judgment by Pinellas County Judge George Greer to remove Terris feeding tube, thereby causing her death by starvation and dehydration.

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